​The Myers-Briggs test is based on the ideas of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. It's a categorization of different kinds of personalities how they perceive and react.

Understanding your personality type, and the personality type of the people around you, can help you navigate disagreements and have a clearer understanding of people's actions.

It can be especially helpful to be aware of your partner's personality type and how it's manifested in the day-to-day life the two of you share.

Thinking vs. feeling

Thinking (T) people generally view problems more objectively and make logic based decisions. Often, they gravitate towards pros and cons lists and consider consequences before making big changes.Feeling (F) people, on the other hand, base their decisions on feelings and how their decision will impact others.

Having the same T or F letter as your partner may make you more compatible because you approach decision making via the same route. There may be fewer conflicts because you will be able to understand each other's thought process.On the other hand, this can also create some blind spots in your couple decision making, so it's worthwhile to seek out a third opinion to gain a new angle.​Sense vs intuition

Sensing (S) people focus on the facts and tend to view issues in a step-by-step sequence.Intuitive (I) people focus on the bigger scheme of things, and can sometimes get lost in the big picture. When couples have different S and I personality types, they often fall into the trap of thinking “you are wrong.” Instead of blaming your partner, try to understand that S and I just have different ways of approaching a problem, and neither is necessarily “right”.

Extroversion vs. introversion

Extroverts (E) derive their energy from interacting with other people and the outer world.Introverts (I) derive their energy from their inner world, preferring to spend time alone in their heads.Almost nobody is 100% introverted or 100% extroverted. More often than not, couples find that each partner has a different balance of I and E tendencies. It is important to be aware of how your significant other recharges and enjoys spending his/her time.

Judging vs perceiving

Judging (J) people usually approach life in a structured manner, with lists and regulations.Perceiving (P) people enjoy flexibility and often prefer making spontaneous decisions.Having different J and P personality types can bring balance into the relationship and minimize blind spots. It can also cause conflict when you and your partner can't find a happy medium.

Having a framework to understand your partner and their perceptions can help your relationship thrive, no matter how similar or different the two of you are.

Resources for taking the Myers-Briggs test

You can take the Myers-Briggs test on the official website, but this requires you to pay in exchange for additional tools and information.You can also take variations of the Myers Briggs Personality Test on the following websites:HumanmetricsTruity16Personalities

If you or your partner are struggling with your relationship, our therapists can help. To get in contact with us, give us a call or fill out the contact form and click Send.​

​Seeking help is often the bravest part of the journey towards mental wellness.

When we’re confronted with intense sadness, anxiety, or fear, we usually feel that we should take care of it ourselves.

Some issues can indeed be dealt with independently, while others require professional attention.

​How do you make that distinction?

5 indicators that you should probably seek help​

You’re experiencing frequent muscle tension or physical aches. This kind of pain is often linked to extreme stress or anxiety that keeps on resurfacing in your life.

Your appetite is different. Sadness or worry can sometimes effect how we eat, but if you’re persistently binge–eating or struggling to work up any appetite, it can be a serious hint something's wrong.

You're struggling with irrational feelings frequently. If you’re constantly nervous about failure, death, or loss, you may be experiencing anxiety. Depression also tends to cause irrational feelings, such as worthlessness or hopelessness. People dealing with mental health can be successful and loved, but find that their feelings don’t coincide with reality.

Are you struggling to be present in your relationships? Many people suffering from anxiety or depression feel that social outings and interactions are either meaningless, or abnormally stressful and draining. Mental health disorders can be extremely isolating and lonely. If these feelings of isolation persist, the root of the problem may be solved through mental health treatment.

If you’re finding that feelings of sadness and fear are interfering with your day-to-day life in general, it may be a sign to seek treatment. Are you calling in sick from work all the time? Have your friends or family members noticed that you’re becoming more and more withdrawn? Have you lost interest in activities that you used to love? These are all indicators that it may be time to seek help.

Get yourself the help you deserve.

Our therapists are dedicated to helping you find the inner peace and fulfillment you deserve.

To find out more about our staff and services, you can contact us today. We have five different locations throughout the Greater Chicago area with experienced, compassionate therapists that can help guide your mental health process.